Think About Construction

Think Agency has extensive experience promoting many varied areas within the construction industry. We have gained the skills to grasp the ever-increasing list of complex acronyms, understand the difficult and tedious building industry tasks, and turn that information into solid marketing fuel.

This can be seen with tools we developed for two of our clients that greatly helped them to connect with the contractors who install their products and the designers that specify their products to the owners.

Atlas ProAPP™

Think Agency developed the ProAPP^™, a free digital tool for roofing contractors to manage multiple projects for Atlas Roofing. This app provides contractors both input and access project management data directly onto an Apple iPad^®. That information can then be sent directly to the app’s estimating feature to generate immediate and accurate estimates on-site.

For the contractor, ProAPP^™ saves time and increases revenue by using a personalized profile to access, store, update, and track all data from anywhere 24/7. Operating on cloud technology, this mobile app has everything a roofing contractor needs to run a professional business, complete with Atlas products, literature, promotions, and training tools. Click here to watch a tutorial video about how to get started with the ProAPP^™.

WikiSTIK^™

Think Agency realized that all members of a build team need accurate product information and technical data. In the past, manufacturers provided this information in massive technical binders, or more recently on CDs or DVDs. Such tools may have been state-of-the-art in their day, but all suffered from one very large drawback. Specifically, they were immediately outdated at the time of delivery.

Architects, specifiers, and contractors who need quick access to building product information from manufacturers, like Kingspan Insulated Panels, can now have that access at their fingertips. Think Agency developed the Kingspan WikiSTIK^™, a flash drive that requires no special installation. It eliminates the need for the tedious updating and distribution of manufacturer notebooks.

WikiSTIK and WikiSTIK Mobile gives design and construction professionals immediate access to comprehensive product literature that is always up-to-date. Convenient links to other manufacturer’s web-based technologies and tools are accessible as well as. This includes all product marketing and technical materials, manuals, images, brochures, videos, case studies, and web resources.

Because Think Agency developed Kingspan WikiSTIK, design professionals no longer have to navigate dozens of manufacturer's websites trying to figure out how those companies archive needed critical information. With WikiSTIK there are no drill downs, no searching, no frustration, and no need to store or waste paper.

Think About This

Think Agency has assisted construction sector companies in every part of the sales channel both nationally and internationally. We have guided them through up and down markets, helping them grow their brand reach, better connect with their customers and increase sales revenues.

Get the information that will get your information to your customers. Fill out the introductory contact form on www.thinkagency.com and let us demonstrate how to better think about construction.

No Space Too Small

Sometimes I find I have too much stuff. Garage sales don’t work because barely anything goes and I can’t bare the thought of pitching my old teddy bears and action figures. So what is there to do with so much to fit into such a small area?! There are several ways to keep your stuff without creating clutter. Design time!

Bed Risers

Using bed risers will add inches under your bed. Once you have the bed risers set in place, and someone’s help to get the bed back into its proper position of course, slide plastic drawers underneath. This is also a great place to store shoes, and baskets full of blankets when not in use.

Found at Bed Bath & Beyond

Shoe Racks

Not sure if the inventor of the shoe rack had intensions of storage space in general, but either way we thank you! For all the ladies, this is great for bathroom storage Stick a shoe rack on the back of the bathroom door to store beauty supplies, the blow dryer that is too big to stick in the side drawer, a straightener, curling iron, and even bath towels. Shoe racks are also great for storing electronic cords, batteries, and small power tools, men.

Found at Deco Hubs

Hooks

Hooks can be used in every room with many styles and designs to coordinate with depending on each room’s feel and style. Hang purses, coats, scarves or hats easily. Renters love this, as the holes are simple to cover up come move out day.

Found at Tikkat

Tension Rods

Too many cleaning supplies? Put a tension rod underneath your kitchen sink or in the laundry room to hang cleaning supplies be the squirt nozzle. Tension rods can also be used inside cabinets or closets.

Found at Basicq

Shelves

Can’t go wrong with the typical shelves. Store puts, figurines, or travel memorabilia you can’t let go of. Not to mention shelves elude an artistic feel when places in a messy-neat manner. Messy meaning eclectic item wise, neat book placement wise. Above the bed is an under-used location for shelves. Put your shoes, clothes, or lights there. 

Found at Shelving Shop

Other Fixes:

Magnets work great, especially in the kitchen for spices and random utensils that have no proper place. Buy a projector instead of a television. Put a standing-pantry next to your fridge and use your cabinet space for other entities.

Envision the feel you want and go on sites like Etsy.com to look for unique storage options to fit the look you are going for. There is no place too small, there are only spacing options not yet discovered.

What Reddit Life Is All About

Founded in June of 2005 by Alexis Ohanian and Steve Huffman, Reddit has become one of the top entertainment social networking websites in the world. Reddit’s global presence contains content of text, photo, video, and direct link posts.

The name Reddit (sort of) sounds like, “I ‘read it’ on Reddit.” Reddit has users in  over 190 countries with over 5 billion total page views and over 114 million visitors per month.

At first, I was a bit perturbed by how validated the content is and who was posting, thinking to myself that anyone and everyone is on the web, so how do you know what is being shared is legit?

I went to post in the Ask Me Anything (AMA) subreddit and I had to provide a link providing confirmation that I was actually who I said I was. That made me feel better, especially when I was inspired to write my first AMA post after reading a post from USA Today reporter and American astronomer Seth Shostak, known for his extensive research for search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Tips from seasoned Reddit users:

·      User temporary17: “If you criticize someone's post, do so constructively. Never attack the person behind the post, even if they deserve it.”

·      User greyclocks: “Don't just stay subscribed to the default subs. Find subreddits that you like or interest you. There's a subreddit for everything.”

·      User Mexican_mudkipz: “Reposting is not bad! If gives you free karma!”

·      User sheymyster: “You can pick up a lot of software super cheap. I recently built my first gaming computer and I picked up a Windows 7 ultimate key for $19, I think it's usually like $200 retail. I believe the subreddit is/r/softwareswap.”

Great tips, but what is all the talk about a “subreddit”? A subreddit is a forum dedicated to a specific topic. You can even create your own subreddit, but let’s not get too ridiculous that nobody would think to search for a keyword linking to your subreddit. These titles are not hashtags. Some of the popular subreddits are: Funny, Pics, Gaming, AskReddit, WorldNews, Politics, and Random. There are also unique subreddits like: TodayILearned, ShowerThoughts, AdviceAnimals and NotTheOnion.

If you really get into Reddit, you can work on your karma. Fellow Redditors can upvote or downvote a post, link, photo, or anything else you might share. Reddit states, “If you think something contributes to conversation, upvote it. If you think it does not contribute to the subreddit it is posted in or is off-topic in a particular community, downvote it.”

Reddit’s community has grown far and popular, offering something for everyone to read or laugh about. Reddit is an interactive community that can help get things accomplished!

Retro Logo Attracts Home Buyers

Branding is all about imagery. The colors, the shape, texture, even the layout of the images all have cognitive induced responses influencing customer’s reactions. There are certain logos that appeal to the building family more so than others. Triggers that work well for building companies are images that evoke a feeling for strong relationships, reliability, and personal interactions.

An old-school theme shows results. The new “grandpa graphic” has a 1940’s retro-styled feel and construction companies are taking advantage of how much their clients love the new look. The building and home improvement audiences like to see a logo they are familiar with.

This greatly improves upon the diversification of a construction company, as it is difficult to emerge against competitors when rivaling on a platform with the only real differences is between the products available and prices offered. The image your companies see should align with your services as well though. Do not commit to a visual upgrade if the services you provide lack in quality. Make an overall change if you are going to pledge to the change.

There are 5 prime ways to successfully brand yourself:

Know your audience

The construction industry is middle-aged. These people like what is easy, familiar, and low-cost-friendly. Look into the demographics of your customers. Know if they watch television for the news, or listen to the radio more. Are they conservative or like to live on the edge? Where your company is based will also be a factor to consider.

Uniqueness

Stand out! Even if this is giving away a free wrench with every service provided. The roofing and construction industry is a niche market since it is so technical. What is your unique product or service? What makes you different from the next contractor? If you are speechless, than some branding strategy may be in order.

Passion

Passionate people are educated people. If you are not passionate or educated learn to fake it. Make sure you can fake it for the long-run though as customers might lose interest if the short-run flair fades quickly. Think about influencers like Steve Jobs who are very passionate about their products and services. They don’t just tell you what the product or service does but describes it and will sell you on it on the simple fact that Steve Jobs is passionate.

Consistency

When customers receive a service and come back for more, they expect the same service when they return. With the saturation of the industry being filled with so many competitors consistency is something the customer can rely on. Take McDonald’s for instance … the customer knows he or she will receive the same Big Mac in Florida as in China.

Exposure

Posting on social networks helps, but posting to the right social networks has a greater effect. This relates back to the demographics of your customers. Know if he or she spends more time on Linkedin and Pinterest than Twitter and Facebook. Offer deals for customers who share your page. And remember, interacting with people is the social aspect of social networking … talk back to your patrons!

The retro logo speaks to a generation of people as well as gives light to a company in a niche market. Find a way to stand out in such a memorable way someone will have to fall through a roof to remember!